Sophia Robinson still left her hometown in North Carolina to start her yr in the Dominican Republic as a fellow at Yspaniola, doing work to present high-top quality training plans to neighborhood small children.
Sophia Robinson ’22, an worldwide & world-wide reports graduate with a Spanish minor from Charlotte, North Carolina, is moving to the Dominican Republic to get the job done in the intercontinental growth business for Yspaniola.
Robinson offers credit score to Elon’s Scholar Professional Enhancement Center’s (SPDC) staff members for their support all over the task look for and using the services of process that assisted her land her function as an Yspaniola Fellow.
As a Yspaniola Fellow, Robinson is functioning to additional the organization’s mission of furnishing marginalized communities with obtain to high-top quality education. Robinson is supporting to present lengthy-time period methods to deeper rooted issues.
Robinson not too long ago answered some thoughts from the SPDC about her knowledge landing this prestigious posture.
How did your curiosity in doing work for Yspaniola produce?
I have normally experienced an interest in touring and working in the global progress business. I was unable to entire my study overseas practical experience due to COVID-19, which produced me even extra motivated to lookup for a career or finding out prospect overseas. I was looking for career chances in the non-revenue sector and came throughout Yspaniola, an firm that functions with furthering children’s schooling and literacy in a pretty reduced-cash flow spot as nicely as documentation problems for Haitian-Dominicans. I was so excited simply because the fellowship appeared to be anything that I was wanting for in terms of it being an international practical experience and a non-income business in the intercontinental development area. I observed that it was in the Dominican Republic, which was also extremely fascinating for me because I am a native Spanish speaker and my small is in Spanish, which has furthered my tutorial fluency. I knew that this would be a wonderful prospect and mastering expertise for me!
When you satisfied with the SPDC team, what were you striving to carry out?
When I achieved with the SPDC, I was in search of help with the occupation research method, as it can be fairly overwhelming. Precisely, I necessary enable getting web-sites and parts to lookup that would direct me to careers in the industry I am intrigued in. At the time I uncovered a job I was intrigued in applying for, I wanted to acquire assistance with making positive my software and interview were up to par so that I would be hired.
Who did you operate with, and what did you discover from your experience with the SPDC?
Rachael Rysz, my vocation advisor, gave me extremely practical networking guidelines and advice on achieving out to the companies I was fascinated in in advance of the software approach to learn much more about the option and clearly show initiative. I also participated in vocation periods supplied by Paul Hvozdovic from the SPDC, who partnered with the Middle for Race, Ethnicity, & Range Education and learning (CREDE)’s Clever mentoring software. By my interactions with the SPDC, I acquired how to utilize LinkedIn, the SPDC website and several work-exploring web-sites.
What was your expertise in landing this opportunity at Yspaniola?
I did a good deal of analysis on the group just before applying. After I recognized how fired up I was about this opportunity, I attained out to Rachel Rysz, who experienced been functioning with me to find the subsequent suitable action. She recommended that I email a person of the recent fellows as a result of LinkedIn to discover a lot more about their practical experience and set up a assembly. The meeting went very nicely and I was specific that this was my subsequent move article-Elon. I wrote a deal with letter and acquired help from personnel members in both the CREDE and SPDC to revise it and get ready for my interviews. I went through two interviews and experienced to prepare a venture program, including how I would implement it from start off to end if I have been to be hired. I gained an electronic mail a couple weeks afterwards permitting me know that I acquired the posture.
What particular items about the corporation tradition manufactured an effect on you?
The place of work ecosystem appeared to be quite welcoming and good. For instance, a person of the skills on the job listing that stuck out to me was a “good sense of humor,” which I thought to be a good indicator that the office was friendly and open up-minded.
What did you study about the individuals, lifestyle and do the job you will perform that made you want to go after a vocation with Yspaniola?
Yspaniola appeared to tick all of my boxes in terms of persons, culture and perform. I required to be aspect of an organization that allows folks to much better assistance and help on their own, somewhat than providing shorter time period alternatives to deeper rooted concerns and then leaving. Yspaniola’s mission statement particularly made an affect on me, “We believe in an inclusive Dominican Republic that provides access to substantial-good quality education and learning and encourages the human legal rights of all persons.” This is a thing that aligns with equally my private and professional objectives and made me want to more go after my fellowship with Yspaniola.
Did you do the job with other staff members or faculty associates to prepare for the software procedure?
I obtained support from many workers associates who operate for the CREDE, specifically Sylvia Munoz and MJ Larrazabal, who genuinely aided me put together for my interviews and reviewed my cover letter. They ended up of huge aid to me and I really substantially respect their unwavering assistance.
What suggestions would you share with other college students about the SPDC?
I would suggest that students go to the SPDC with any questions or information they may be searching for, even if it appears to be trivial. There are a great deal of resources, sources and great assistance that is available to and produced for students’ profit, get benefit of them!
